Easily Age Terracotta Pots Using Lime

 

• • Cup of Garden Lime — garden center, Home Depot, Amazon, or Walmart

• • New terra cotta pots — Home Depot, garden center, or Dollar Tree

• • Cheap brush, sea sponge, or sponge brush — Home Depot, Dollar Tree, or craft store

• • Plastic container

• • 120-grit sanding sponge or sand paper (I use these)

• • A little water

• • Avocado or moss craft paint for moss growth

• • Matte sealer- (HERE) Outdoor weather-safe sealer (HERE) for outdoor pots

• • Rub on Transfers - similar - mine are no longer available (HERE)

• • Outdoor protective sealer

Step 1: Age Pots: Easy DIY Lime Wash Technique

The first thing I did was bring my supplies to our large utility sink. Your first step is to cover your work surface with craft paper to begin the aging process. If it's a nice day, make your garden-lime-aged pots outdoors. The next step is to add chalky lime to a plastic bowl and add a little water. Below, you will see a photo of the consistency to create your aged terra cotta pots.

I used a cup of garden lime and added a little water at a time for this easy project to get the right consistency. Normally, the measurement is 2 cups of water to 1 cup of garden lime. I'm using this lime wash technique on four small pots, a medium, and a bigger pot.

Cindy's Note: It's a good idea to do this project outdoors. Also, it is important to note that lime can be caustic, so wear gloves when working with it. Because I have MS, I did this indoors. So, the smaller pots were done in our utility sink, and the bigger pot in my office. Since I was working with lime indoors, I wore a mask when sanding and spraying the matte sealer. I wanted to be extra safe.

 

Step 2 Steps to Apply Your Aged Pot Finish

To age new terracotta pots with lime, you mix a cup of garden lime with a little water to form a paste. Continue adding lime until the consistency resembles pudding. Begin applying the lime wash to the outside of the pot using a cheap paint brush. Also, add a coat to the inside of the pot. 

First, I applied the lime wash to the outside of the pot using a paint brush. When the outside dried, I added the wash to the inside of the pot. Now, let the pots dry. The flower pots will dry in a matter of minutes. The lime will dry and form a white film on the surface of the pot. This gave the pot an aged look and instant gratification. No more waiting for pots to age over time.  So, easily age terracotta pots using lime.

Cindy's Tip: I left some spots on the flower pots a bit heavier with the lime. This is because when pieces age in nature, items age differently in different areas. So, this gives the pots a realistic look.      

Step 3: Add a Clear Coat and Sand 

After the flower pots dry, spray them with a light coat of matte sealer. Being an organic product, lime may come off the pots; this is normal. Again, let the terracotta pots dry completely.

Next, use a 120-grit sanding sponge or 120-grit sand paper and lightly sand small sections of the chalky lime from the flower pots. This allows different variations of the aged look to appear and look natural. Also, sand sections to allow the real terracotta to show through on the aged terracotta pots. This is a creative way to achieve different looks for each pot. Sand until you achieve your desired look.

Cindy's Note: Remember, if you are doing this inside, open the windows and wear a mask when you easily age terracotta posts using lime!  

Step 4: Adding Moss 

Add a little water to the green paint. I did this to create my own moss. After adding a bit of the green paint on the rim with a small paint brush, lightly smooth it to blend on the pots. I used the tip of my finger. This gives them the look of moss growth. The part I truly enjoy about garden-lime-aged pots is leaving variations of the lime. This is a creative way to give new terra cotta pots different looks in different ways with chalky lime.

Cindy's Note: Creating my own moss with the avocado paint and adding it gave the garden-lime-aged pots the most natural-looking patinas. This is a personal preference, so feel free to skip this part. However, it's my favorite part!      

Step 5: DIY Chalky Lime Pots with Rub on Transfers

I added this chalky lime technique to some larger pots I picked up at Home Depot. One bigger pot is out on our deck, and the other is on the front porch. Since each pot will have a real plant and soil, it’s a good idea to add a clear coat outdoor sealer to the outside and inside before adding the lime.

Then I just did steps one through three until I got the look I wanted with the lime. I also added rub on transfers for a little extra charm. After adding the rub on transfers, I finished with three light coats of outdoor protective sealer. This outdoor sealer has UV protection and is water-safe for rain. So far, so good, it’s held up great through high humidity, rain, and the hot sun here in NJ. You can find these easy spindle flags (HERE)

Cindy’s Note: Rub on transfers are one of the easiest ways to update any easy project in a matter of minutes.